Improvement in combination-padlocks



H. M. KING 8v S. D. PIERCE. Combination Padlock.

No. 200,617. Patented Feb 26, |878.

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the bolt is retained in place.

TUN-1TECSrllrEsE PATENT OEEICE.

` HERBERT M. KING AND sgnEEMorrrIEECE, .oE CHICAGO, iLnfNoIs'."'f

MPR'QVEMENT IN, CoMBINATloN-PADgocKs;

Specification forming vpart lof Letters PatentNo. 200,617, :dated February 26,1487'8; application filed July 2,1877. f

To all whom iii-may concern:

Be it known that we, HERBERT M. KING and S. DERMOTT PIERCE, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement iny Locks,

especially adapted to the fastening of chains,c

Ste., of which the following is a specification:

This improvement relates to that class of locks known as permutation-locks, wherein tumblers or their Aequivalent parts are arranged in a certain order by the turning of a central spindle, and without the employment of any key; and it consists, iirst, in the peculiar bolt, which is adapted to engage with the chain between the ends of two adjacent links, and jam the intermediate link against the edge of the orice in the lock-plate through which the chain is passed, and a series of permutation locking-rings to hold said' bolt in position; second, in a hollow central hub for the permutation-rings, into Vwhich hub the stud on the locking-bolt may retreat.

That others may fully understand our invention, we will particularly describe it, having reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure l is a perspective view of our lock in use. Fig. 2 is a perspective longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the operative button. Fig. 4 is alcentral longitudinal section of the lock.

A is the case of the lock, and B is the locking-bolt, adapted at its front end to enter between the links and jam them against the edge of the plate, and so engage with them as to prevent the withdrawal of the chain while The rear or tail end of the bolt B protrudes through the rear end of the case A, so that it may be caught by the ngers and drawn back, when the locking devices release it.

The locking devices, as shown herein, consist of a stud, E, placed upon the bolt B, and a series of rings, C, placed upon a hollow cylindrical post, D, with separating annular rings d rigidly secured to said post, so that there cannot be any frictional Contact between the` rings C as they move. Each'of said rings is provided on one side with an opening sufficient to permit the stud E to passthrough when the bolt is retracted, and it is apparent openings coincide. E

Each yring C has upon lts surface, and near vits outer periphery, a little stud or pin, e, and these' studs upon the proximate faces off said rings are in line with each other, so that when one ring, G, is caused to move its pin e will come in contact and engage with the similar pin on the adjoining ring, and cause that ring to move also. Thus, when the uppermost of said rings is rotated it will inally engage with and produce a similar movement of the middle ring, and this latter will similarly carry the lower ring with it, so that, if the relative positions of the several pins are known, it may be possible, by rotation and counter rotation of the upper ring, to finally arrange them all with their open sides coincident.

Therefore the indexplate F is arranged in the top of the plate of the lock, so as to rotate upon an axis coincident with the axis of the rings, and a stud, g, similar to the pins e,

is placed in the bottom of an arm projecting laterally from the spindle of said plate, so that as the same is revolved it will engage with the upper pin e of the upper ring G, and said ring may thereby be caused to rotate in either direction. Around the seat of the indexplate F there is indicated a dial, G, the graduations of which are preferably numbered, and the pointer h serves to identify the several required adjustments.

Suppose, now, the bolt B to be withdrawn and the lock ready for use. The chain I is inserted through the holes i i', and said bolt :is shoved forward again until it engages between the chain-links as above described. The indexplate F is then revolved two or three times in either direction, and one or more of the rings C will thereby be rotated and caused to close behind the stud E, so that said bolt can thereafter be withdrawn only bya person acquainted with the necessary movements or combinations of said index to restore the rings() to their coincident position.

With the arrangement of the pins e shown, the necessary combination of motions will be as follows: First, rotate the index-plate F to the right four or five revolutions to bring all the drive-pins e into engagement, and stop the index h at 4 on the dial. Thereby the lower ring C will be brought to the proper position; second, rotate the plate F to the left .until the index h has passed the or 24'of the dial three times, and arrest said index at 14% of the dial. The middle ring will then be in position; third, again rotate the plate F to the right, passing said star once, and arrest at 22 and a fraction of the dial, and the upper ring will be in position, and the bolt B may be Withdrawn.

The positions of the pins ema-y be varied, and the combination movements may thereby be changed or varied indefinitely.'

A fourth rin-g may be added, if desired, by attaching it rigidly to the plate F, which will then require a iinal and denite adjustment after the present third ring is adjusted.

Having described our invention, what We claim as nersT is- 1. A case, A, with an orice, z', adapted to receive a chain, combined with the lockingbolt B, moving iatwise across said orice to engage between the links of a chain in the manner shown, and the combination lockingrings C C, substantially as set forth.

2. The several rings G C, provided with pins e' e, as set forth, and arranged to rotate upon a hollow center hub, D, into which the stud E may retreat when the bolt B is withdrawn.

3. The bolt B, adapted to lock a chain by clamping its links against the edge ofthe orice'i of the plate A, and combined with a series of rings, C C, divided at one side, as set forth, and provided with pins e e, and actuated by the rotation of the spindle of the index-plate F, as shown and described.

HERBERT M. KINGn S. D. PIERCE.

. Witnesses:

A. KIRLZABICK, CHAs. A. TELPER. 

